Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Juvenile Justice topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Police ask council to expand Juvenile Hearing Board eligibility to include simple assault referrals; matter sent to public safety committee
Summary
Detective Jason Berlingame asked the council to amend the town charter to remove an exclusion that prevents simple assault cases from being referred to the Juvenile Hearing Board, arguing local diversion could offer restorative justice and closer monitoring; the council voted to send the proposal to the public safety committee for review.
Detective Jason Berlingame of the North Providence Police Department proposed amending the town charter to remove language that currently excludes juvenile offenders charged with simple assault from referral to the Juvenile Hearing Board.
Berlingame told the council that other towns, including Coventry, allow similar offenses to be considered by local hearing boards and that expanding eligibility would allow the town to offer restorative, locally supervised diversion rather than sending defendants prematurely to family court.
"The primary goal of this proposal is to expand the reach of the JHB services and provide a more robust rehabilitative path for local youth," Berlingame said, arguing that local oversight allows more tailored check‑ins and support.
Council members asked process questions about eligibility and second offenses; Berlingame said enrollment in the board is voluntary and that family court remains an option for youths who wish to contest charges. The council voted to refer the proposed charter language change to the public safety committee for drafting and further review.
Why it matters: The change would be a local policy decision about diversion and juvenile accountability that could reduce referrals to the state family court for certain low‑level offenses and provide town‑level restorative options.
What’s next: The public safety committee will review the proposed language, examine practices in other towns, and return a recommended draft for council consideration.
